Volume 6 Issue 4 (2018) 280-285 ISSN 2347-3258

International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation

Evaluation of FRC Beams Using Steel and PVA Fibres in Concrete
P.Arulmurugan
Department of Civil Engineering, Vivekanandha College of Technology for Women, Tiruchengode, I ndia
Abstract
Article Info: The conventional concrete is enhanced by the addition of fibers in it. The brittleness in concrete is
Article history reduced and the adequate ductility of concrete is ensured by the addition of fibers in concrete. The
Received 7 October 2018 fibers used are polyvinyl alcohol powders and steel fibers in various volume combinations. The main
Received in revised form: reason for adding fiber to concrete matrix is to find its compressive strength, split tensile strength,
28 October 2018 flexural strength and deflection test. The base polyvinyl alcohol is highly resistant to the majority of
Accepted 2 November 2018 aggressive agent and will never oxidize when exposed to the condition which causes the steel to rust.
Available online 15 December 2018 The hybrid fibers of various combinations in polyvinyl alcohol powder is 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5% and
Keywords: Polyvinyl alcohol powders, steel fibre 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0% are decided to use in concrete mix. The workability of these fiber
Steel fibers, Compressive strength, Split reinforced concrete mix will be increased by addition of super plasticizer.
tensile strength, Flexural strength

1. Introduction
In ancient time’s fibres are used as reinforcements. In mortars horse
hair is used and in mud, bricks straw is used. In 1950’s fibre
reinforced concrete got great importance. By 1960’s fibres such as
steel, glass, synthetic fibres such as polypropylene fibres, polyolefin
fibres has got great importance.Fibres have great role to control
cracking due to plastic shrinkage and due to drying shrinkage. Fibres
such as polypropylene when added to concrete reduce the
Compressive strength, but increases both split tensile strength and
flexural strength. They are more porous compared to the plain
concrete. Moreover the bridging effect by this fibre leads to the
improvement in the tensile and flexural strength. The fibre also
improves the resistance to ion penetration which results in corrosion
reduction of reinforcing bars. Steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC)
offers good tensile strength, ultimate strength, flexural strength,
shock resistance, fatigue resistance, ductility and crack arrest. Some
researches show that SFRC shows a slight tendency to reduce the
young’s modulus as the fibre content decreases. Some of the
experimental results show that the beams reinforced with steel fibres
shows a similar or even better post cracking behavior than beams with
minimum amount of transverse reinforcement. When fibres are used
in addition to the conventional transverse reinforcement the shear
strength significantly increases. Steel fibre also reduce the width of
shear cracks, thus improve durability. The surface corrosion of steel
fibre reinforced concrete mostly depends on the cover and the water-
cement ratio. In some other research the combined effect of silica
flume and steel fibre improved the impact resistance and mechanical
properties of concrete.
When fibres are added to concrete, it becomes homogeneous,
isotropic and transforms it to a ductile material. These fibres will act
as secondary reinforcement in concrete and reduces crack formation
and propagation. Fibre reinforced concrete can be defined as a
composite material consisting of cement, concrete and discontinuous,
discrete, uniformly dispersed suitable fibres. In a research with
polyvinyl alcohol and silica fume, specimens with the both
components have more ductility than control and silica fume
specimens. If more than one fibre is used in concrete, it is called
Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Concrete (HFRC). If the fibre used is large
and strong, it will control crack formation and if it is small and soft,
it reduces the crack formation and propagation. Researches shows
that when the fibres are used in the hybrid form-steel and
polypropylene, increases ductility. Steel fibre bridging across cracks
in concrete mix will increase joint shear strength. The PVA fibre
increases the ductility and energy dissipating capacity. Further
researches were done to study about the fracture properties and
impact properties of hybrid fibre reinforced concrete. Research works
indicate that the hybrid fibre addition leads to significant
improvement to compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, splitting
tensile strength, and modulus of rupture of pumice light weight
*Corresponding Author,
E-mailaddress: muruganarul48@gmail.com
Phone No :+91- 95249 73045
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aggregate concrete and meet the specification for structural purpose.
Other research works with steel and polyvinyl alcohol show that they
increase the compressive strength, flexure, modulus of rupture and
ductility.
2.Steel Fibres
Steel Fibres are filaments of wire, deformed and cut to lengths, for
reinforcement of concrete, mortar and other composite materials. It is
a cold drawn wire Fibre with corrugated and flatted shape. Steel fibers
intended for reinforcing concrete are defined as short, discrete lengths
of steel having an aspect ratio in the range of 20-100, with any cross
section and that are sufficiently small to be randomly dispersed in a
fresh concrete mixture using usual mixing procedures. Steel fibers are
available in lengths between 6 and 80 mm and with a cross-sectional
area between 0.1, 1.5 and 2 mm. The Tensile strength is normally in
the range between 300 and 2400MPa. They are circular or rectangular
cross-sectional shape and are produced by cutting or chopping steel
wires or by shearing sheets of flattened metal sheets and steel bars.
The fibers are usually crimped or deformed with either a hook at each
fiber end or a small head in order to improve the anchorage in the
concrete matrix as shown in figure 1.
Fig. 1: Steel Fibre – Crimped
2.1 Polyvinyl Alcohol Fibres
Polyvinyl alcohol fiber (PVA) is an ideal environment-friendly
cement reinforced material, which possesses alkali and weather
resistance due to its unique molecular structure, taking on good
affinity to cement, effectively prevent and suppress the crack
formation and development, improve bending strength, impact
strength and crack strength, improve permeability, impact and
seismic resistance of concrete. This product can be widely used in
industrial and civil buildings, walls, roofing, flooring and roads,
bridges, tunnels, slope reinforcement. Currently, in cement concrete
engineering sector, due to PVA fiber per se unique properties, with a
broad prospect for its future in the engineering, PVA fiber is a novel
product ideal to completely replace the asbestos as shown in figure 2.
3.Objective of the Investigation
The objective of the present investigations is investigate the
workability, mechanical and flexural characteristics of concrete for
various proportion of two different fiber and comparing the results

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 Volume 6 Issue 4 (2018) 280-285 ISSN 2347-3258
International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation
with conventional concrete. The investigation is aimed in finding out The properties of fine aggregate satisfy the allowable limits of
the Compressive strength of cube, Split tensile strength of cylinder, IS 383: 1970
Flexural strength of prism and Load Vs deflection of beam 5.3 Coarse Aggregate Inference
The properties of coarse aggregate satisfy the allowable limits
of IS 383: 1970.
5.4 Properties of Fibre Inference
 The properties of polyvinyl alcohol powder are obtained from
the supplier Padma Traders, Coimbatore.
 The properties of steel fiber are obtained from the supplier
Jeetmull Jaichandlall Pvt(Ltd), Chennai.

Fig. 2: Polyvinyl alcohol powder

3.1 Scope of the Present Investigation
The scope of the investigation can be summarized as follows
a) To enhance the flexural strength and toughness by adding steel
fiber.
b) To enhance the bridging of smaller micro cracks by addition of Fig. 3: Superplasticizer
polyvinyl alcohol powder. Table 1: Properties of Cement
c) To examine the effect of hybrid fibers on structural behavior
RC beams and
d) To investigate the hybrid fibers influence on strengthening of
RC beams.
4. Collection of Materials
4.1Cement
Portland Pozzolanic cement (PPC) of Fly ash based is used for casting
concrete and the specific gravity of cement was found to be 3.05.And
the properties were given in Table 1.
4.2 Fine Aggregate
The fine aggregate (sand) used was clean dry river sand conforming Table 2: Properties of fine Aggregate
to IS 383:1970. The sand was sieved to remove all pebbles. The
specific gravity was found to be 2.61.And the properties were given
in Table 2.
4.3 Coarse Aggregate
Hard granite broken stones of 20 mm size were used as coarse
aggregate conforming to IS 383: 1970. The specific gravity is
2.64.And the properties were given in Table 3.
4.4 Steel Fibre
Steel fibres are filaments of wire, deformed and cut to lengths, for
reinforcement of concrete, mortar and other composite materials. It is
a cold drawn wire fibre with corrugated and flatted shape. Crimped
steel fibers are used in this study and the properties were given in Table 3: Properties of Coarse Aggregate
table 4. Polyvinyl alcohol Fibre Polyvinyl alcohol fibres have
attracted more attention for reinforcing cementitious materials in the
recent years. In this part emphasis is given on Polyvinyl alcohol fibres
as they were used throughout the experimental program. The
properties were given in Table 5.4. Super Plasticizer
Super Plasticizers, also known as high range water reducers, are
chemicals used as admixtures where well-dispersed particle
suspensions are required. These polymers are used as dispersants to
avoid particle aggregation, and to improve the flow characteristics
(rheology) of suspensions such asin concrete applications.
4.5 Polycarboxylate ether super plasticizer (PCE)
It work differently from sulfonate based super plasticizers, giving Table 4: Properties of fibre
cement dispersion by steric stabilization, instead of electrostatic
repulsion. This form of dispersion is more powerful in its effect and
gives improved workability retention to the cementitious mix and it
is shown in figure 3.
5. Test Results of Material Properties Cement
5.1 Cement Inference
The specific gravity and all other properties are within the
allowable limits.
5.2 Fine Aggregate Inference

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 Volume 6 Issue 4 (2018) 280-285 ISSN 2347-3258
International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation
5.5 Concrete Mix Design Inference Thorough mixing of materials is essential for the production of
As per IS10262-1982 the concrete mix design prepared for M25 uniform course. The mixing should ensure that the mass becomes
grade concrete from IS10262-1982 for maintain workability homogeneous, uniform in colour and consistency. In this project, we
Table 5: Concrete Mix adopted machine mixing. As the mixing cannot be thorough, it is
desirable to add 10% more materials. A concrete mixer operated by
current and of tilting type was used.
Table 7: Details of Moulds

The above Mix proportion is made for Grade of concrete M25 in this
its considered size of Coarse aggregate is 20mm, with mild exposure
condition and the degree of workability is 0.9. All the necessary test
data (physical properties) for the materials used in this mix design
were calculated with the observation made from corresponding test
results as per the codal provisions. The mix design is made for the
target mean strength of concrete of 33.745N/mm2 which is computed
as per IS 10262:1982.Based on this target value the water cement Fig. 4: Mixing of concrete
ratio, cement, fine aggregate, Coarse aggregate are calculated. Here 6.3 Compaction Of Concrete
the required water content is computed by referring the table 5 and 6 Compaction of concrete is the process adopted for expelling the
of IS 10263:1982 where we considered water/cement ratio, entrapped air from the concrete. In the process of mixing, transporting
compaction factor, and sand zone in turn the cement content also and placing of concrete, air is likely to get entrapped in the concrete.
determined. Then fine and coarse aggregate contents were obtained The lower the workability, higher is the amount of air entrapped.
by using the total volume formula by referring the IS code book. Hand compaction by using a tamping rod. When hand compaction is
Table 6: Mix proportion of concrete with % of Fibres ontent adopted, the consistency of concrete is maintained at a higher level.

Fig. 5: Compaction of concrete

6.4Curing
The test specimens after compaction were kept as such for a period
of 24 hours. After that period of time the moulds were removed and
the specimens were kept in ordinary curing tank and allowed to cure
for a period of 7 and 28 days.

6.Details of Casting
6.1 Preparation of the Mould
The moulds used for testing were cube, cylinder, prism and beam
which were made up of cast iron and the inside faces were machined
plane. All the faces of the mould were assembled by using nuts and
bolts and are clamped to the base plate. All the internal angle of the
mould must be 90°. The faces must be thinly coated with mould oil
to prevent leakage during filling. The inside of the mould must also
be oiled to prevent the concrete from sticking to it.
Fig.6: Curing
6.2 Mixing
7. Test Results and Discussion

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 Volume 6 Issue 4 (2018) 280-285 ISSN 2347-3258
International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation
The specimens were casted and allowed to cure for 7 and 28 days and
were tested.
7.1 Slump Value of Fresh Concrete
Table 8: Slump Value of concrete

Fig.10: Compressive strength of Hybrid fiber after 7th and 28th days
7.2.1 Inference
In various volume fraction of fiber, maximum compressive strength
of concrete achieves at the volume fraction of 0.25% PVA and 0.75%
SF.
7.3 Split Tensile Strength

Fig.7: Slump Value of Fresh Concretes for Polyvinyl alcohol Fiber

Fig.8: Slump Value of Fresh Concretes for Polyvinyl alcohol Fiber

7.1.1 Inference:
It was found that workability of polyvinyl alcohol fiber is good when
compared to steel fiber at higher volume fraction of steel fiber, slump
Fig.11: Split Tensile Strength of Polyvinyl alcohol Fiber after 7th and
value of concrete increases by adding super plasticizers.
28th days
7.2 Compressive Strength

Fig.9: Compressive Strength of Steel Fiber after 7th and 28th days
Inference
 The compressive strength of concrete improves by adding fiber
compared to controlled concrete.
 Volume fraction of polyvinyl alcohol fiber should be minimum,
it should not exceed 0.35%.
 The optimum level of compressive strength for polyvinyl
alcohol fiber and steel fiber is 0.25% & 0.75% for compressive
strength of concrete.
 So, the volume fraction of hybrid fiber is taken as 1% i.e.
0.25%PVA & 0.75% SF.
Fig.12: Split Tensile Strength of Steel Fiber after 7th and 28th days
Inference
 Enhancement of split tensile strength of concrete by the addition
of fiber, compared to controlled concrete.
 The optimum split tensile strength perk up at 0.25% PVA &
0.75% SF.
 The volume fraction of hybrid fiber is taken as 1%. i.e 0.25%
PVA & 0.75% SF
7.4 Flexural Strength

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 Volume 6 Issue 4 (2018) 280-285 ISSN 2347-3258
International Journal of Advance Research and Innovation
7.5.1 Inference
 For conventional concrete beam, the first crack arrives at the load of
10.5 KN, the deflection at the mid span and L/3 of span is 1.728mm
& 1.456mm
 For conventional concrete beam , the beam fails at the ultimate load
of 32.1 KN and the maximum deflection at mid span and L/3 of span
is 19.36 & 16.785.
7.6 Beam Deflection for Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Concrete
7.6.1 Inference
 For Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Concrete Beam, the first crack
arrives at the load of 12.7 KN, the deflection at the mid span and
L/3 of span is 2.38mm & 1.764mm
 For Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Concrete Beam, the beam fails at the
ultimate load of 40.9 KN and the maximum deflection at mid span
Fig.13: Flexural Strength of Hybrid Fiber after 7th and 28th days and L/3 of span is 24.451 & 20.432
Inference 8. Conclusions
Flexural strength of prism for hybrid fiber, which enhances at 0.25%  From the Experimental Investigation it is concluded that,In
PVA & 0.75% SF compared to conventional concrete prism addition of polyvinyl alcohol fiber, the crack formation had been
7.5 Beam Deflection for Conventional Concrete arrested and mechanical and flexural properties of concrete
Table 7: Test results of Load Vs Deflection for Conventional achieves 30% higher than conventional concrete at lower volume
Concrete Beam fraction of fiber(0.25%).
Load Deflection at mid Deflection at Remarks  In addition of Steel fiber, mechanical and flexural properties of
span L/3 of span concrete achieves 33% higher than conventional concrete at higher
0 0 0 volume fraction of fiber(0.75%).
2.2 0.282 0.261  The hybrid fiber reinforced concrete at the volume fraction of 1%
enhances compressive strength by 34%, split tensile strength by
15% and flexural strength by 10% compared to conventional
concrete.
 The hybrid fiber reinforced beam at volume fraction of 1% (0.25%
PVA & 0.75% SF) shows higher deflection when compared to
convention concrete beam.
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